Pneumatic device for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop



June 18, 1968 w. KUPPER PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR SEIZING A STARTING LENGTH OF YARN FROM A COP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1966 June 18, 1968 w. KUPPER 3,388,872

PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR SEIZING A STARTING LENGTH OF YARN FROM A COP Filed April 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. '4

United States Patent 3,388,872 PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR SEIZING A STARTING LENGTH OF YARN FROM A COP Wilhelm Kupper, Rickelrath, Kreis Erkelenz, Germany, assignor to Walter Reiners, Marchen-Gladbach, Germany Filed Apr. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 539,394 Claims priority, application Germany, May 29, 1965,

R 40,748 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-35.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pneumatic device for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop includes a suction nozzle member of annular shape having nozzle opening means extending annularly along the inner periphery of the member so as to surround the cop being acted upon, the annular suction member having an internal suction channel extending coaxially about the inner periphery, the opening means forming a substantially continuous circular nozzle slot along the inner periphery, and means for accommodating the cop in substantially coaxial relation to the annular nozzle member, the member and the cop on the nozzle opening means being axially movable relative to one another. The suction channel can have a spiral shape about the nozzle slot. The number of pin means can be mounted on the suction member at the nozzle opening means and peripherally distributed about the opening means, the pin means consisting of barbs having their respective points directed substantially in the flow direction of the suction air current.

My invention relates to a device for seizing the starting length of yarn from a spinning cop or the like coil of yarn by means of a suction nozzle.

Known devices of this kind comprise an elongated nozzle with a suction slot extending axially along the cop which is preferably mounted for rotation about its axis while yarn is being pulled from its periphery into the nozzle. Other known devices comprise a wide suction tube into which the cop is coaxially inserted. Both types of devices require a relatively large suction power for reliably seizing the star-ting end of yarn; and a considerable amount of mechanical equipment to provide for rotation of the cop or for relative motion betw en cop and suction tube.

Relating generally to devices for seizing the starting length of yarn from a cop by means of a suction nozzle, it is an object of my invention to avoid or minimize the above-mentioned shortcomings of the known devices.

To this end, and in accordance with my invention, the mouth of the nozzle member is designed as a ring-shaped slot which, during pneumatic operation, surrounds the cop in substantially coaxial relation thereto, the member and the cop being axially movable relative to one another.

In such a device, the annular nozzle opening may be kept relatively small so that a reduced suction power suffices to produce a very strong current of suction air. Furthermore, during the axial relative motion between cop and nozzle member, the annular gap must at some moment constrainedly pass through the starting locality of the yarn, so that this starting end of the yarn is always most reliably seized and drawn through the slot and into the nozzle member.

Another outstanding advantage of a device according to the invention is the fact that it does not necessarily demand the provision of a particular mechanism for moving the cop or the suction nozzle. Thus, according to a preferred feature of my invention, the suction nozzle is stationarily mounted about a downwardly extending ghavity path for the cop along which the cop will drop or glide freely through the ring-shaped nozzle without the aid of "ice gears, levers or other drive mechanisms. When thus the cop at the end of the gravity path arrives on a cop holder, for example a mandrel, the starting length of yarn taken from the cop will automatically extend from the suction nozzle down to the cop and hence can readily be seized in order to be conveyed to the machine component serving to further fabricate the yarn of the cop, for example to the knotting device of a yarn-package winding machine.

To prevent the cop, during relative travel between cop and nozzle, from being sucked fast at the nozzle, it is preferable according to another feature of my invention to provide the annular nozzle member, at least at the side facing th arriving cop, with peripherally distributed recesses which individually extend radially outwardly from the inner periphery of the annular nozzle member.

The suction channel inside the annular nozzle member, which channel extends about and communicates with the ring-shaped nozzle slot, may extend spirally about the slot. In this case the air current is sucked on a spiral path into the nozzle so that it passes on a circular path about the cop during the relative motion between cop and nozzle. Such a spiraltype nozzle member is particularly advan tageous for use with cops coming from spinning or twisting machines. As a rule, these cops have a starting length of yarn, resulting from the last stage of the spinning or twistin operation, extend from the tip of th cop on a steep helical path down to the foot of the cop. Such a helical winding of yarn is then unwound with facility by the spiral flow of suction air as the cop travels relative to the nozzle member. The suction channel extending spirally about the nozzle slot may be given a cross section which gradually increases in the direction of the suction air current. In this manner, the intensity of the suction air current can be kept substantially constant along the pcriphery of the ring-shaped nozzle slot.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention results by widening the annular nozzle slot at individual peripherally distributed localities so as to form air guiding grooves. This produces particularly favorable flow conditions which can be further improved by giving the center line of each air guiding groove a spiral shape corresponding to the direction of the incoming current of suction air. In consequence, during the relative motion between cop and nozzle opening, a very intensive air current is produced just in front of the nozzle opening and circulates around the cop to secure a particularly reliable seizing, lifting and, as the case may be, unwinding of the starting length of yarn.

The invention will be further described with reference to an embodiment thereof illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a suction nozzle device according to the invention in section along the line I-I in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the same device in cross section and together with a cop just passing through, the section being along the line lI--ll in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a detail from FIG. 2 on larger scale; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of a cheese winding machine equipped with a device according to the invention but somewhat modified as compared with FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring first to FIG. 4, there is shown a yarn package winding machine which, except for the provision of a yarn seizing device according to the invention, corresponds substantially to the machine illustrated and described in Patent 3,111,280 of Reiners and Fiirst, assigned to the assignee of the present invention (FIG. 14 of the patent corresponds to present FIG. 4 with the exception of the added device according to the present invention).

The multi-station winding machine of which only one winding station is shown in FIG. 4, comprises a frame structure with standards 1 on top of which an inclined table 2 is mounted. A magazine container 4 placed upon the table contains a number of spinning cops K vertically piled up in each magazine chamber, the cop axes being substantially horizontal. The cops drop individually through an opening in the bottom of the magazine to a position K Thereafter the cop passes to a position K and through a chute 19a onto a feeder conveyer consisting of an endless chain provided with a number of troughs 7a for receiving the respective cops in the position shown at K The conveyer runs along the individual winding stations to supply them with cops whenever needed.

Each individual winding station mounted on the machine frame structure 11 comprises a frame 12 pivotally mounted at 12a in which a take-up spool 13 is journalled. The yarn coming from the cop, then in position K passes through a tensioner 18 and over a guiding drum 14 onto the take-up spool 13. The spool 13 rests against the guiding drum 14 and is frictionally entrained thereby to rotate at constant peripheral speed while the yarn, passing through a guiding groove of drum 14, is reciprocated along the take-up spool in order to form the desired yarn package. Details with respect to design and operation of such yarn winding machines are described in the abovementioned Patent 3,111,280 as well as in Patent 2,994,491, for example.

During the winding operation, the yarn supplying cop K is held on a spear or mandrel 19. The mandrel is mounted on a shaft 19a by means of which it can be rotated from the illustrated position of cop K, to a donning position where the mandrel 19 extends parallel to a trough-shaped slideway 23. Such rotational motion of the mandrel is effected only after a depleted cop, or rather the remaining tubular core, has been dotted from the mandrel. The slide 23 is upwardly extended by a trough-shaped slideway 25 upon which a new supply cop K is kept ready. The cop on slideway 25, however, is normally stopped by a latch 24. For cop exchange, the latch 24 is moved downwardly to permit the cop to slide from position K; on slideway 25 downward onto the mandrel 19, whereafter the mandrel is turned upwardly to place the cop into the unwinding position K.;.

As mentioned, the feeder conveyer comprises an endless chain of individual members each of which forms or holds one of the troughs 7a. Each trough receives a single cop in an upright, nearly vertical position. Pivotally mounted at the lower end of each conveyer trough 7a is a closure member 39 which retains the cop in the trough 7a. When the trough 7a arrives at an individual winding station where previously the cop in slideway 25 has been released onto the mandrel 19, a feeler device (not illustrated) becomes active to open the closure member 39 so that the cop drops from position K in conveyer trough 7a onto the slide member 25 where it is held in the position K to be available when thereafter the cop now being unwound in this particular winding station is depleted. With respect to the feeler device and other details just mentioned, the machine is identical with the one illustrated and described in the above-mentioned Patent 3,111,280.

Now, according to the present invention, a yarn seizing device comprising an annular nozzle member is mounted between the conveyer trough 7a and the slideway 25 so that the cop when dropping from position K to position K will pass coaxially through the circular opening of the nozzle member. This will be more fully described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the illustrated cop 141 has its starting length of yarn extend from the tip in steep helical turns 141a toward the cop foot. As the cop 141 passes through the illustrated nozzle member 142 in the direction of the arrow 141]], these steep turns 141a are to be seized by being sucked into the nozzle member.

The nozzle Opening 143 is formed as an annular gap or slot which surrounds the cop. The internal suction channel 144 (FIG. 1) of member 142 has the shape of a spiral about the annular suction slot. The cross section of the channel 144 increases in the direction 145 of the suction air current. The increase in cross section is clearly seen in FIG. 2 where the cross section of the channel at the locality 144a is considerably smaller than at the locality 144i).

The axial width of the ring-shaped suction slot which forms the opening of the nozzle member is enlarged at individual localities distributed about the periphery so as to form air guiding grooves 146 merging with the slot. The center line 146a of each individual air guiding groove is spirally arranged so that a very intensive suction current surrounding the cop will result, thus facilitating the unwinding of the helical surface turns 1410.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, the suction nozzle member 142 is preferably mounted stationarily and the cop 1 is caused to drop through the nozzle member in the direction of the arrow 141b (FIG. 2). To prevent the cop from being sucked fast in the suction nozzle, the nozzle member is provided along its inner periphery with a number of radially outward recesses 147 at least on the nozzle side 143a facing the arriving cop.

It may happen, for example during transportation, that the above-mentioned steep helical turns of yarn 141a extending from the tip to the foot of a cop have become pressed into the wound body of yarn so as to be entangled with other turns of yarn inside the yarn body. In this case, the length of yarn seized by the nozzle may be subsequently pulled out of the nozzle mouth as the cop, during its continuous travel, moves downwardly away from the nozzle member. To prevent such trouble, it is of advantage to mount pins, needles or the like members inside the nozzle opening around the nozzle slot. Preferably provided in this manner are peripherally distributed barbs having their respective tips pointing in the direction of the suction air current. In the event of entanglement, the yarn end, once sucked into the nozzle, is drawn between the pins, needles or barbs and is caught behind them, so that the continuing relative motion between cop and nozzle causes the yarn to be pulled loose from the body of yarn on the cop. Consequently, the entire starting length of yarn is sucked into the nozzle member in the desired manner.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is designed and operative in the manner just described. A number of pin members 148 (FIGS. 2, 3) are peripherally distributed within the annular nozzle slot 143. These pin members in the illustrated embodiment are designed as barbs whose tips point in the direction of the suction current of air.

The functioning of these barbs 148 will be apparent from FIG. 3. Normally, thestarting end of yarn seized by the air current will extend into and through the annular nozzle opening. If the surface turns 141 have become hooked into the body portion of yarn on the cop, then the sucked-in end of yarn is constrainedly moved to the broken-line position 141d, due to the downward travel of a the cop. The yarn thus enters between two barbs 148. Due to the above-described rotational movement of the air current the piece of yarn sucked into the nozzle is now at least partially wound about a barb. The relative travel between cop and suction member there-fore imposes a pulling force between the barb and the cop, so that the starting length of yarn is loosened from the body of yarn and can 'be readily sucked into the nozzle.

Instead of providing needles, pins or barbs, it suifices in some cases to increase the coefiicient of friction in the suction nozzle. This can be done, for example, by inserting emery linen or other friction lining instead of the barbs. With some unfavorable kinds of cops it is advisable to employ barbs or the like pin members conjointly with emery linen or some such friction lining.

The shape of the nozzle member according to the invention may be modified in various respects. Thus, the nozzle member 142 shown in FIG. 4 has a circular cross section of its suction channel 144' as well as of its outer crosssectional contour, with the nozzle slot 143 located in the lower portion.

As further shown in FIG. 4, the suction nipple of the nozzle member is connected with a suction conduit 150 of the machine, the same conduit being used for operation of other suction devices and kept under negative pressure, for example by a blower or pump (not shown).

Upon a study of this disclosure it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that my invention permits of various other modifications and hence may be given embodiments different from those illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essential features of the invention, and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic device for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop, comprising a suction nozzle member of annular shape having nozzle opening means extending annularly along the inner periphery of said member so as to surroud the cop being acted upon, said annular SllC- tion member having an internal suction channel extending coaxially about said inner periphery, said opening means forming a substantially continuous circular nozzle slot along said inner periphery, said annular suction member having at said slot a number of peripherally distributed recesses extending radially outward from said inner periphery, and means for accommodating the cop in substantially coaxial relation to the annular nozzle member, the member and the cop on said means being axially movable relative to one another.

2. A pneumatic device for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop, comprising a suction nozzle member of annular shape having nozzle opening means extending annularly along the inner periphery of said member so as to surround the cop being acted upon, said annular suction member having an internal suction channel extending coaxially about said inner periphery, said opening means forming a substantially continuous circular nozzle slot along said inner periphery, said suction channel having a spiral shape about said nozzle slot, and means for accommodating the cop in substantially coaxial relation to the annular nozzle member, the member and the cop on said means being axially movable relative to one another.

3. In a device according to claim 2, said suction channel having a cross section widening in the air flow direction.

4. A pneumatic device for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop, comprising a suction nozzle member of annular shape having nozzle opening means extending annul-arly along the inner periphery of said member so as to surround the cop being acted upon, said annular suction member having an internal suction channel extending coaxially about said inner periphery, said opening means forming a substantially continuous circular nozzle slot along said inner periphery, said suction member having peripherally distributed air guiding grooves merging with said nozzle slot so as to axially Widen said slot at the localities of said respective grooves, and means for accommodating the cop in substantially coaxial relation to the annular nozzle member, the member and the cop on said means being axially movable relative to one another.

5. In a device according to claim 4, the center lines of said respective air guiding grooves being spiral-shaped.

6. A pneumatic device for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop, comprising a suction nozzle member of annular shape having nozzle opening means extending annularly along the inner periphery of said member so 8 to surround the cop being acted upon, a number of pin means mounted on said suction member at said nozzle opening means and peripherally distributed about said opening means, and means for accommodating the cop in substantially coaxial relation to the annular nozzle member, the member and the cop on said means being axially movable relative to one another.

7. In a device according to claim 6, said pin means consisting of barbs having their respective points directed substantially in the flow direction of the suction air current.

8. For use with a textile machine having cop supply means and cop holding means spaced from one another, pneumatic device located intermediate the cop supply means and the cop holding means for seizing a starting length of yarn from a cop supplied to the cop holding means from the cop supply means, said pneumatic seizing device comprising a stationary suction nozzle member of annular shape having nozzle opening means extending annularly along the inner periphery of said member so as to surround the cop being acted upon, and means for accommodating the cop in substantially coaxial relation to said annular nozzle member, said member and the cop on said cop-accommodating means being axially movable relative to one another, said cop-accommodating means defining a path of cop travel substantially from the cop supply means to the cop holding means and coaxi-ally through said nozzle member.

9. In a device according to claim 8, said cop-accommodating means extending above and below said nozzle member and forming a gravity path for cops to pass from above through said nozzle member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,892,470 6/1959 Corneliusson et al. 139-257 3,111,280 11/1963 Reiners et al. 24235.5

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,388,872 June 18, 1968 Wilhelm Kupper It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 5, "Marchen-Gladbach, Germany" should read Manchengladbach,

Germany Signed and sealed this 9th day of December 1969.

Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

